Goal 1: Empower students for a lifetime of success and impact

• Through the Project Management Lite (PML) internship program, students gain vital leadership, business and technical skills. High-impact internships and mentorship on crucial OIT projects provide real-world experience, preparing them for successful industry careers.
• Provide essential academic technology and hands-on support through the Virtual Computing Lab (VCL) and the Walk-in Center, directly enabling student productivity and coursework.
• Empower students with the advanced skills and technologies that are shaping the future of every industry by deploying Google’s cutting-edge AI suite (NotebookLM, Vids, Gemini) to all university faculty, staff and students.
• Foster a vibrant campus community by creating a new, state-of-the-art home for our expanding Esports program within the newly designed Mann Hall and a mobile technology unit. This integration of modern facilities will ensure students have access to cutting edge learning, research and outreach environments capable of modern demands like AI, virtual environments and help prepare them for the future of work..
• Built infrastructure to support pilot deployment of Jupyter Notebook access to HPC for first-year engineering students.

Goal 2: Ensure preeminence in research, scholarship, innovation and collaboration.

• AERPAW, an NSF-funded drone and wireless research platform, continued to offer its unique experimental platform to researchers as well as hosting a national competition.. Its platform lead transitioned to become an OIT employee for efficiency. A new MOU with Taiwan’s Auray OTIC and Security Lab boosted its global recognition and expanded international collaboration.
• Research administrative processes have been streamlined through enhancements to the Conflict of Interest (COI) system, the implementation of the Proposal Development module within the RED System, and beginning development of an automated Guest & Affiliate System. All these efforts are in partnership with the Office of Research and Innovation.
• Developed platform to integrate agricultural data and disseminate analytical results in constituents across the state.

Cybersecurity and Compliance

• Elevated the university’s overall cybersecurity posture through ongoing compliance with DFARS 252.204-7012 and NIST 800-171 and by proactively preparing for NIST 800-171, Revision 3 and FAR 52.204-21.
• Conducted a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 assessment for our Secure University Research Environment (SURE) in March 2025. NC State is one of the few universities with this certification.
• Provide expert guidance and compliance support for high-impact initiatives, such as DoD-funded CLAWS Hub
• Developing a compliant multi-cloud security framework for sensitive research with the NC Institute for Climate Studies (NCICS).

Research Computing and Data

• Created the new Research Computing and Data (RCD) unit within OIT to support research partnering with ORI and the Libraries.
• The escalating demand for high-performance computing (HPC) and GPU computing, fueled by the explosion of AI and its associated power needs, has resulted in a fivefold surge in infrastructure demand. Consequently, expanding our computational and storage capabilities, and securing a sustainable data center solution for HPC and GPUs, are critical priorities.
• Pursuing opportunities to expand fiber connectivity to research farms across the state, mirroring the capabilities established at Lake Wheeler. This aims to transform these farms into advanced platforms for research.
• Collaborative efforts with Duke and UNC Chapel Hill are also underway to scale our data center capabilities and establish a statewide shared HPC and GPU resource for all North Carolina higher education institutions.
• Established new structure for research storage that enables charging to research grants.
• Improvements to Research Computing and Data
  • Partnered with large centers on research computing needs from development of databases to scientific computing, such as with the Agriculture Analytics initiative of the Plant Sciences Institute.
  • Conducted information sessions with campus leaders in departments, centers, and units, to understand scientific computing needs to inform planning decisions.
  • Developed Open OnDemand mechanism to use R Studio on the HPC with web browser access.
  • Initiated new user forums to share information on updates.

Goal 3: Expand and advance our engagement with and service to North Carolina and beyond, defining the standard for a 21st-century land-grant university.

• Completion of the State Financial Audit related to the Federal Safeguards Rule underscores our rigorous adherence to federal financial regulations which is critical for financial operations and transactions including payroll.
• Deployed and maintained a SAS Viya v4 instance in Azure, providing powerful analytical capabilities to support our Ag Analytics Platform.
• Continued partnership with other universities and NCDIT allows them to contract with NC State for VoIP services, fostering greater efficiency and collaboration across the UNC System.
• Ongoing collaboration with the City of Raleigh on Smart Cities initiatives positions NC State at the forefront of urban innovation and community problem-solving.
• Continued organizing RTP CIO breakfasts, facilitating invaluable dialogue, partnerships and strategic planning among regional IT leaders.
• Partnered with large centers on research computing needs including dissemination for extension, such as with the Agriculture Analytics initiative of the Plant Sciences Institute.
• Collaborating with campus units who conduct significant outreach and extension including in agriculture and climate, as they work to digitize and automate their data collection and analysis.

Goal 4: Champion a culture of equality, belonging and well-being in all we do.

• Piloted Group Mentoring program designed to boost employee engagement, strengthen cross-organizational connections and provide professional development opportunities.
• Ongoing IT Quick Halls connect IT staff across campus to keep them informed of university activities like research projects, new teaching activities and external partners efforts, fostering a more informed and cohesive community where everyone feels connected and aware of university mission.
• Actively participate in, support and help plan UNC CAUSE, a cost-effective IT conference that provides accessible training opportunities for IT staff and networking opportunities across North Carolina higher education IT professionals.
• Hosted the annual IT Community event, further strengthening collaboration with IT campus partners where they present key activities that could be adopted by others and create a sense of shared purpose.
• OIT’s ComTech and UHR collaborated on a workshop addressing hybrid work’s impact on culture and etiquette, promoting belonging and collaboration for all employees.
• Hosted sessions with College Information Technology Directors for discussion and communication.
• Initiated open forums for users of HPC for information sharing and community building.

Goal 5: Improve university effectiveness through transformative technologies, cutting-edge processes and actionable data.

• Significantly improved our core enterprise systems (SIS, Financial, HR, and REPORTER) to streamline daily operations for students, faculty and staff.
  • Student Information System (SIS) enhancements: integrated Fellowship Awards and automated Leave/Withdrawal processes, improve financial aid, communication, and overall student experience.
  • Financial System improvements: electronic Travel Advance and automated invoicing, reduce administrative burden, enhance financial accuracy, and improve compliance for grant funding.
  • HR System updates: new leave processes and a graduate appointment module, streamline human resource functions and boost administrative efficiency.
  • REPORTER enhancements: WolfWare/REPORTER billing, improve business processes for managing campus activities and finances.
• Achieving and maintaining PCI DSS Compliance (credit cards) for seven consecutive years demonstrates our robust cybersecurity effectiveness in protecting sensitive financial data across campus. This continuous compliance safeguards the university’s financial operations and reputation.
• Completed a thorough Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) risk assessment, collaborating with risk owners to identify gaps and develop treatment plans, thereby strengthening our data security.

Goal 6: Lead in developing innovative partnerships, entrepreneurial thinking and applied problem-solving.

• Spearheading the university’s comprehensive adoption of AI tools, establishing university-wide guidelines, training and a rigorous risk-assessment process for new AI software. Mardecia Bell is the representative to the business focused AI committee for the university. This proactive approach ensures responsible and effective integration of this transformative technology across all operations, gaining recognition in the EDUCAUSE Horizon Report.
• Expanded drone pilot training program, developed in collaboration with the FAA, showcases our commitment to external partnerships to meet real-world needs.
• Supporting statewide broadband connectivity expansion through MCNC and working through a new non-profit to improve educational access across North Carolina, addressing a critical need for remote students as well as economic development across the state as a major societal challenge.
• Engagement in DoD efforts to pursue projects like landmine detection/energetics and the CLAWS semiconductor innovation center highlights our ability to secure significant external partnerships and apply our expertise to critical national security.

Goal 7: Elevate the national and global reputation and visibility of NC State.

• Hosted AERPAW tours and demos for international and national delegations, including those from the Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program, to highlight our leadership in advanced wireless and drone research.
• ClassTech strategically shapes the university’s AV/IT footprint for educational uses, influencing broader industry best practices.
• Growing esports activities, leveraging our facility for teaching and grants, which positions NC State at the forefront of this rapidly expanding field and attracts new partnerships.
• VCL Leadership: A Shared Services staff member chairs the Apache VCL project, with other team members actively contributing.
• GitHub Partnership: NC State is a primary resource for GitHub, offering guidance to other universities as one of their longest-tenured and largest higher education installations.
• Google CAB: Matt Deal is recognized nationally and within Google as a thought leader in storage, automation and analysis, frequently consulted by Google and other universities on the Google Higher Education Change Advisory Board (CAB).